BOLSTER: Building Out Lifelines for Safety, Trust, Empowerment and Renewal

Hospitalizations can be difficult for patients with cancer, especially when they are transitioning home. Patients and caregivers are often expected to perform complex medical and nursing tasks with little or no preparation. Patients and caregivers report high levels of unmet needs for information about how best to manage symptoms and new medical procedures (such as managing new tubes, lines or drains).

The study team has developed a research project which aims to address these needs. If a patient agrees to participate in the study, she will take part in a program called BOLSTER (Building Out Lifelines for Safety, Trust, Empowerment and Renewal). BOLSTER will provide patients and caregivers with education and skills training, symptom management, and support across care settings.

Patient inclusion criteria

• Adults (≥18 years old);
• GYN or GI cancers receiving anti-neoplastic therapy;
• Hospitalized, recently hospitalized (i.e. within the first 2 visits after a hospitalization), or recent outpatient placement of tube, line, or drain (e.g. PleurX catheter);
• Plan to receive ongoing care at DFCI;
• Willingness to be audio taped for the study (for monitoring of study fidelity).
• Have complex care needs (e.g. an ostomy, ileostomy, a gastric tube, percutaneous nephrostomy tubes, a PleurX catheter, or need for total parenteral nutrition)

Patient exclusion criteria

• Unable to read and respond to questions in English;
• Cognitive impairment;
• Unable to complete the baseline interview;
• Plan for immediate hospice referral

Caregiver inclusion criteria

• Adults (≥18 years old);
• Family member or friend of an eligible patient;
• Willingness to be audio taped for the study (for monitoring of study fidelity);
• Willingness to participate in study visits

Caregiver exclusion criteria:

• Unable to read and respond to questions in English,
• Cognitive impairment
• Unable to complete the baseline interview